Queen and Prince Philip recreate honeymo…

ROYAL ROMANCE: Two pictures taken at Broadlands 60 years apart, but Prince Philip and the Queen appear to have duplicated the loving shot, below, on their 1947 honeymoon. The official portrait, above, is released by Buckingham Palace today to mark the couple's diamond wedding. The pose is the same, what they are wearing is strikingly similar and the Queen has the same brooch and necklace

The Duke of Edinburgh returns her gaze, yet, as ever, appears a little less comfortable in front of the camera.

But most remarkably of all in this latest photograph - part of a set officially released to mark the couple's diamond wedding anniversary on Tuesday - they are wearing outfits almost identical to those from their honeymoon.

Even the Queen's jewellery is the same: a double strand pearl necklace that was a wedding gift from her father George VI and a brooch, believed to be one given by Prince Albert to Queen Victoria before their marriage.

Despite the similarities, Buckingham Palace sources insisted yesterday that the couple never set out to formally recreate the honeymoon pictures.

It was simply gentle encouragement from a photographer, they said, that led to the Queen linking arms and turning to face her husband.

And they are symbols of constancy, after all.

The Royal couple will tomorrow mark their milestone with a special service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey where they married.

Some 2,000 people will gather for the celebration, the day before their actual anniversary.

As well as more than 30 members of the Royal Family - including the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry - Gordon Brown and Baroness Thatcher are among the guests,

Future king William, 25, will give a reading, while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will bless the Queen and the Duke and deliver the address.

"Hemlines are turned to a sensible length so as not to reveal the Royal knees, and weighted to counter gusts of wind," she says.

"Hats are designed to stay on, whatever the weather, and without the Queen having to hold them on.

"She once told Royal milliner Philip Somerville she had never once lost a hat.

"The shoes, generally patent leather courts with block-heels, are high enough to create some elegance, while sturdy enough to withstand a Royal walkabout."

The Queen's off-duty wardrobe has also remained constant throughout the years, suggesting that personal choice has also played its role.

Her natural preference is for tweeds and wax coats, her only accessories a folded Hermes silk twill headscarf and pair of wellington boots.

The Mail on Sunday columnist and fashion writer Liz Jones says that while it is easy to mock the Queen, her style does its job to perfection.

"For me she is a member of that rare breed of women - and among them I include Jackie Onassis and American Vogue's Anna Wintour - who very early on in life found what suited them and stuck to it, come what may," she says.

There are risks in this approach, of course. Richard Branson and Gyles Brandreth are forever labelled with patterned woolly jumpers.

And Jeremy Clarkson will not give up his jeans, no matter how inappropriate they seem below a bulging waistline.

But perhaps the most famous adherent to the steadfast fashion code is Dolly Parton.

"Not for nothing is she known as 'The Queen of Nashville', says Karen Kay.

"Like the Queen, Dolly identified a public image from a very early age and has revelled in her rhinestone cowgirl style ever since, joking that 'it takes a lot of money to look this cheap.'"

1947...When candles lit the Palace and a pint cost 10d

Britain was a very different country in 1947 when the Queen married. Austerity measures were still in place after the war.

Luxury: Radio launch

" Rationing was the norm. Ministers asked women to wear shorter skirts to save cloth. People were allowed only tuppence-worth of tinned meat a week and there were limits on potatoes, fish, fresh meat and eggs. Some children got their first leather shoes from the Red Cross. Radios, like the portable one shown to star George Formby at a Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, above, were a luxury.

" Fuel shortages were common and the coal industry was nationalised. Electricity was intermittent - power was switched off to the Midlands one day a week - and Buckingham Palace was lit with candles. The number of trains was cut by ten per cent and "pleasure motoring" was banned. There were strikes by the miners, road hauliers and other essential services.

" Britain was in the grip of an extremely cold winter. There were 14ft snowdrifts in Norfolk and icebergs off Great Yarmouth. The sea froze off Margate. The RAF made airdrops into Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and soldiers cleared snowdrifts in Dorset using flame throwers. After the snow came the floods, hitting 100,000 homes - twice the number in the devastation this year.

Stars: Mills and Muffin

" British actors James Mason and Margaret Lockwood were the nation's favourite film stars. Woman's Hour was voted the most popular radio show. For the few who had television it was the year that Muffin the Mule, starring Annette Mills, took off.

"There was a thriving black market, and the Government passed laws to defeat "spivs". The rich were not able to spend on modern extravagances. In September 1947, the Government banned foreign holidays and businessmen with a legitimate reason to travel were allowed to spend a maximum of £8 a day, to shore up sterling.

" Prices were comparatively steep. Beer cost 10d a pint - the equivalent of £1.10 today. A bottle of whisky was the equivalent of £50 in today's prices.

House prices had yet to spiral out of control. The average home cost £2,200 or £65,186 today. The Daily Mail cost 1d, equivalent to 11p today, although only four pages of newsprint were allowed.

29 people have commented on this story so far. Tell us what you think below.

Here's a sample of the latest comments published. You can click view all to read all comments that readers have sent in.

As a 20 year old student I imagine I'm supposed to be in the category that doesn't care what the Royal Family does, but I am not. I support them 100% and I'd like to congratulate the Queen and Prince Philip on their 60th Wedding Anniversary. My Grandparents have just celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary - both of these are a huge achievement and I'm very proud of anyone who can celebrate that many years of marriage!

- Carly, Stafford, England

I have always thought Prince William was so like his mother, but he is a ringer for the young Prince Philip in that wedding photo!

- Rhona, Galashiels, Scotland

This is a very remarkable accomplishment. And they did it without taking lots of extravagant and exotic trips to far-off places before their marriage, in the hopes that they could keep their relationship alive. Hard work and commitment are the key, and not taking one vacation after another. Younger royals should take note!